Table 1 Description of the shellmounds surveyed in the present study, Joinville–Santa Catarina state.

Cubatão I

Dating: 3480 ± 80 years BP [19]

Dimensions: 130 × 90 × 9.0

26° 12′ 17″ S 48° 46′ 20″ W

Located at the mouth of the Cubatão River in Babitonga Bay. Shellmound is constantly waterlogged and contains preserved archaeological plant artefacts. Archaeological excavations occurred in 2007, 2009 and 2020

Cubatão II

Dating: no date**

Dimensions: 60 × 70 × 1.5

26° 12′ 11″ S 48° 46′ 49″ W

Located five meters from the Cubatão III shellmound and less than 1 km from Cubatão I. Lost part of its structure due to road construction

Ilha dos Espinheiros II

Dating: 3,015 ± 130 years BP [53]

Dimensions: 80 × 40 × 5

26° 17′ 31″ S 48° 46′ 45″ W

Located on the shores of Babitonga Bay. Archaeological excavation occurred in the 1980s. The owner periodically removes the forest understory

Lagoa Saguaçu

Dating: 4690 ± 30 years BP [60]

Dimensions: 130 × 180 × 9

26° 18′ 20″ S 48° 47′ 39″ W

Located on the shores of Babitonga Bay, much of its structure was removed due to the exploitation of shells for the manufacture of lime until the mid-twentieth century

Morro do Amaral II

Dating: 2998–2756 years cal BP***

Dimensions: 20 × 70 × 3.5

26° 18′ 38″ S 48° 45′ 16″ W

Located on Morro do Amaral Island on the shores of Babitonga Bay. There is no record of significant changes in its structure. On the island, there is a community of artisanal fishermen, descendants of Luso-Brazilian settlers in the seventeenth century

Morro do Ouro

Dating: 4030 ± 40 years BP [61]

Dimensions: 60 × 95 × 13

26° 18′ 53″ S 48° 49′ 40″ W

Located at the mouth of the Cachoeira River in Babitonga Bay. It was exploited for lime production until the mid-twentieth century. Part of the structure was removed to build a road. Archaeological excavations occurred in 1952–1960, 1968, 1979 and 2019

Rua Guaíra

Dating: 5200 years ± 70 years BP [52]

Dimensions: 40 × 40 × 16

26° 15′ 07″ S 48° 48′ 32″ W

Located on the slope of a small hill in a densely occupied and urbanized region, approximately 3 km from Babitonga Bay. There is a historical record of material removal from its structure